Chronic wasting disease confirmed in white-tailed deer

September 17, 2008|By A.J. Hoffman Courier Staff Writer

It was confirmed on Aug. 25 that a captive white-tailed deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.

Chronic Wasting Disease is a neurological disease which affects deer, elk and moose. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) along with the Michigan Department of Agriculture both confirmed the findings of the deer which tested positive at a privately owned breeding facility in Kent County.

“The disease is a hazardous threat that hunters must take seriously,” said Michigan United Conservation Club President Bill Krepps. “Instead of reacting negatively, now is the time to work together to insulate our deer heard from further spread of this horrible disease.”

According to the DNR, the disease is fatal and infected animals display abnormal behaviors, progressive weight loss and physical debilitation.

Experts believe that the disease is transmitted through infectious, self-multiplying proteins (prions) contained in saliva and other fluids of infected animals.

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Potential victims can acquire the disease by direct exposure to infected fluids or from a contaminated environment. Once contaminated, research suggests that soil can remain a source of infection for long periods of time, making chronic wasting a particularly difficult disease to eradicate.

The DNR's response included immediate activation of its Chronic Wasting Disease contingency plan. The plan included a ban on baiting and feeding of deer and elk in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, a ban on transportation of deer and a quarantine of captive cervid facilities. Also, hunters who harvest deer in the department's surveillance "hot zone" in the Kent County townships will be required to participate in a deer check. The ban also applies to feeding for recreational viewing as well as hunting.

“In order to protect our current and future hunting heritage, Michigan hunters must stop baiting and feeding deer to prevent Chronic Wasting Disease and other diseases from not only infecting other animals, but to ensure a proper long-term scientific management of our herd,” Krepps explained.

Deer hunters this fall who take deer from Tyrone, Soldon, Nelson, Sparta, Algoma, Courtland, Alpine, Plainfield, and Cannon townships will be required to bring their deer to a DNR check station. Deer taken in these townships are subject to mandatory deer check.

The disease cannot be detected with live animal tests. As a result, the department will kill and test 300 deer within the “hot zone.” According to the DNR, this response plan is designed to prevent potential spread of the disease.

According to a FAQs sheet released by the DNR, “any regional threat to a healthy deer population is a statewide concern.” The release also stated that dear hunting annually generates more than $500 million and that a healthy deer herd is critical to the state’s economy.

“The proximity of Chronic Wasting Disease to Charlevoix County is to be determined,” said Tim Rice, Wildlife Supervisor of the Gaylord DNR office. “That facility (in Kent County) has sold product to other facilities. Once we find out where they’ve sold to, then we can determine how this affects those areas.”

According to Rice, the disease cannot hurt a human upon consumption of one of these deer. “As far as we know, there isn’t any evidence that it can be transferred to other species,” Rice said.

“We’ve done some testing to determine that it hasn’t spilled over into the free-ranging deer population,” said Rice. “If it has, then it’s a pretty serious issue.”